Learn how to make simple, interactive projects using Arduino hardware. We'll walk through a couple of easy projects to give you a feel for what's possible and show a few examples of what other news organisations have used it for. Open to anyone who likes to play and make things blink. We'll have a few Arduinos on hand to share, or you can bring your own. We won't be soldering and no previous coding experience required. Bring a laptop if you can.

What is an Arduino?

An Arduino is a small computer that you can program to control things like lights or motors along with listening to components like light meters or motion detection sensors. It can give your project interactivity without needing an expensive and large computer like a laptop. Instead, you use a computer to program the Arduino, upload your code to the Arduino, and hook up your circuit. You can disconnect your Arduino from your computer, add a battery, and your project with your Arduino will keep running.